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Good clients are like good jobs, few and far between. Contracting is not the solution to bad jobs, a good job is the solution to a bad job. If you can find goo

Good clients are like good jobs, few and far between. Contracting is not the solution to bad jobs, a good job is the solution to a bad job. If you can find good clients, contracting can be great, but bad clients can be a real drag: it’s easier to quit a job than it is to fire a client. I’d recommend giving it a go, but don’t expect it to be better, just different. Personally, on balance, I prefer it and don’t plan to go back to full time… but it’s often just as defeating. (Regarding how easy it is, it’s very easy, anybody who can get a full time job can do contracting, software engineering contracting is in high demand, always.)

darthcloud 4y ago
I confirm that, I was pretty in same situation as OP contemplating going solo. I soon realized this would only make thing worst. I spend some time looking around for my dream job + dream team. I found it in another city, It is an old-ish small company (25 years, ~20 employee) got interviewed by Owner and CTO and it clicked right away between us. Quality of life is more important than growth for them. My wife was very supportive and we moved with the kids over there. Best decision of my life. My wife noticed a night and day difference in my general mood. I realize I got lucky but this is the real fix.
HeyLaughingBoy 4y ago
This, so much! I hang out on /r/freelance and it's all too common that new freelancers are frustrated because they thought that now they'd just be free to "practice their craft" but they have no interest in all the other minutiae that's required. OP: the best advice I can offer is to ask yourself if you want to run a business. Because that's what it is. Not programming, not coding, not design (although you will do those things). You have to realize that you are running a small business and it would be best if you understand that right out the gate and it's something that you will enjoy.
ilaksh 4y ago
It's not always easier to quit a job. A lot of times at least you have another client at the same time. Although it can be hard to juggle more than one client. But still it's a less exclusive situation and maybe not worth it if you really are attached to a single client.
danielvf 4y ago
I freelanced for 20 years. I had one iron rule - no jerks for customers. If someone seemed like a pain to work with, I wouldn't start working with them. If a customer turned out to be a jerk, I would "fire" them after the project finished. (I think I only had to fire three in 20 years.) Over the years, this worked out GREAT! One truth is that customers tend to refer customers like them. Easy to work with customers, that pay on time, tend to refer others that do the same. I spent almost all of my years working with wonderful people.
brudgers 4y ago
As a corollary, new consultants tend to get worse clients because good clients have regular consulting needs and hence are almost always already working with established consultants. And because they are good clients the established consultants will move the heavens to keep them happy. And because they are established consultants they can take a loss on a project and still be around for the next one in two years.

darthcloud 4y ago

I confirm that, I was pretty in same situation as OP contemplating going solo. I soon realized this would only make thing worst. I spend some time looking around for my dream job + dream team. I found it in another city, It is an old-ish small company (25 years, ~20 employee) got interviewed by Owner and CTO and it clicked right away between us. Quality of life is more important than growth for them. My wife was very supportive and we moved with the kids over there. Best decision of my life. My wife noticed a night and day difference in my general mood. I realize I got lucky but this is the real fix.

HeyLaughingBoy 4y ago

This, so much! I hang out on /r/freelance and it's all too common that new freelancers are frustrated because they thought that now they'd just be free to "practice their craft" but they have no interest in all the other minutiae that's required. OP: the best advice I can offer is to ask yourself if you want to run a business. Because that's what it is. Not programming, not coding, not design (although you will do those things). You have to realize that you are running a small business and it would be best if you understand that right out the gate and it's something that you will enjoy.

ilaksh 4y ago

It's not always easier to quit a job. A lot of times at least you have another client at the same time. Although it can be hard to juggle more than one client. But still it's a less exclusive situation and maybe not worth it if you really are attached to a single client.

danielvf 4y ago

I freelanced for 20 years. I had one iron rule - no jerks for customers. If someone seemed like a pain to work with, I wouldn't start working with them. If a customer turned out to be a jerk, I would "fire" them after the project finished. (I think I only had to fire three in 20 years.) Over the years, this worked out GREAT! One truth is that customers tend to refer customers like them. Easy to work with customers, that pay on time, tend to refer others that do the same. I spent almost all of my years working with wonderful people.

brudgers 4y ago

As a corollary, new consultants tend to get worse clients because good clients have regular consulting needs and hence are almost always already working with established consultants. And because they are good clients the established consultants will move the heavens to keep them happy. And because they are established consultants they can take a loss on a project and still be around for the next one in two years.